With the launch of watchOS 7, Apple has added several new features to compatible Apple Watch models, such as new watch faces and sleep time tracking, but has also removed the Force Touch gesture, which is widely used by some (although others may don't even know what it is).
When users press firmly on the Apple Watch screen, Force Touch technology detects the additional pressure and displays additional context-dependent content and controls. But in watchOS 7, Apple removed all Force Touch interactions from the interface, rendering the sensor found in the Apple Watch Series 5 and earlier watches useless.
Below we have collected ten watchOS 7 features that replace interactions previously performed using Force Touch on Apple Watch.
1. Clear notifications
The list of notifications on Apple Watch can grow rapidly, especially if you forget to clear the alerts as soon as they arrive and read them. Instead of deleting them one by one, a Force Touch gesture allowed you to delete them all at once.
Now you have to scroll down until you reach the top of the notifications, where you will find a button that is used to dismiss them.
2. Create and delete the spheres
To create a custom watch face with a background image, you need to open the Photos app on Apple Watch and select a photo.
Instead of pressing hard on the screen like you did before with Force Touch, tap the Create Sphere icon in the lower left corner of the screen and select Kaleidoscope or Photo.
3. Compose a new message
When you open the Mail and Messages apps, you can sign in to compose a new message by doing Force Touch.
Now that it's gone, you need to scroll down to access the New Message button at the top of the message list.
4. Edit your movement goal and get weekly activity summary
Using Force Touch on the main screen of the Activity app I used to view the weekly summary, which showed how many times you met or exceeded your goal during that week. If you press hard again, the button to change the movement goal appears to adjust the number of calories you want to burn.
Both options have been replaced by individual buttons that you will find at the bottom of the Activity app main screen, under the stats for the day.
5. Share your location with a contact
While viewing a message within the Messages app, using Force Touch allowed you to quickly share your location with the sender or view more contact details.
These options are now at the bottom of the message screen, directly below instant replies.
6. Switch between panel view and list view
Force Touch in the app screen allows you to switch between the default tile view and the alternate view in List mode.
In watchOS 7, you can find both options in the Settings application, in the Apps view.
7. Hourly temperature forecast and probability of rain
The standard weather forecast in the Weather app on Apple Watch shows general weather conditions for the next 24 hours. Prior to watchOS 7, using Force Touch in the app showed buttons to switch between weather conditions, probability of rain, and temperature.
Fortunately, you can keep doing this by tapping on the 12-hour forecast and scrolling through it.
8. Remote control of camera settings
With the Camera app open on the Apple Watch, Force Touch may display a hidden submenu that allows access to HDR, Flash, Live Photo, and camera switching controls.
In watchOS 7, all of these controls are found by tapping the three dots located in the lower right corner of the screen, which will show a vertical menu that can be scrolled.
9. Change the calendar view
Prior to watchOS 7, changing display options within the Calendar app could be done using Force Touch.
These options are now located in the Settings app, under Calendar -> View options.
10. Change and modify the orbs
Of all the changes made since the Force Touch removal, this is probably the least painful, as it requires more or less the same gesture.
To switch between orbs or customize the currently selected one, you just need to hold down the clock screen to access the orb selector.
Conclusion
Force Touch is one of the Apple Watch features that was so discreet and unobtrusive that in the end the normal user never discovered it - nor was there anything to indicate it could exist.
Like 3D Touch on the iPhone, Force Touch hasn't gained ground in everyday use and Apple has probably received thousands of emails from users asking how this or that was done - or why it couldn't do the other ... they just needed to know what it was like. 'was that functionality and how to use it.
If you have discovered other changes in watchOS 7, leave us a comment. Will you miss Force Touch?
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